Former Wisconsin Sen. Bob Kasten said Saturday he will be part of Donald Trump’s foreign policy team.

Kasten planned to endorse Trump and appear with the GOP frontrunner Saturday at a rally in Racine. He said he was supporting Trump because of his “job creation background” and called him the “best hope for economic growth.”

Kasten, who served in the US Senate from 1981 to 1993, said he would like to play a role in smoothing things over between Trump and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Walker has endorsed Trump’s leading rival, Ted Cruz, and Trump has bashed Walker’s record as governor.

“I hope if I stay involved in this campaign I might be one of those who can put a bridge back between Scott Walker and Donald Trump,” said Kasten. “It’s just unfortunate in the heat of politics and debates there has been a little too much back and forth.”

Asked about Trump’s part in the divisions within the party over his candidacy, Kasten said: “He’s never run for public office, and I believe that every day he’s learning and getting better. I believe he’s going to able to become a uniter.”

Kasten said he was invited by Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions to a recent meeting in Washington with Trump and “agreed to help on defense and foreign policy.”

About Craig Gilbert

Craig Gilbert is the Journal Sentinel's Washington Bureau Chief and writes the Wisconsin Voter blog about politics and elections.